ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Hard-throwing rookie Allen Webster joined the Red Sox bullpen on Sunday, four days after he'd made his first relief appearance of the season for Triple-A Pawtucket.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Hard-throwing rookie Allen Webster joined the Red Sox bullpen on Sunday, four days after he'd made his first relief appearance of the season for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Because Webster can touch 97 miles per hour with his fastball and complements it with two swing-and-miss secondary pitches -- and because righthanded relief appears to be an area of need for the Red Sox -- it seemed as though the rookie might get a chance to emerge as a weapon in the final three weeks of the season.

But Boston manager John Farrell said Wednesday that it's not a priority at this point to gauge how Webster handles major-league hitters in a relief role. Webster is simply with the Red Sox to provide innings if necessary.

"If we get into a situation where we're overtaxed, there's going to be opportunities for him," Farrell said. "In the meantime, we're going to stay with the guys we've turned to for the better part of the year."